Vientiane, Lao PDR | 29 July 2024
OPENING REMARKS
Dr. Theresa Mundita S. Lim
Executive Director, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
To the members of the Programme Steering Committee,
Representative of the ASEAN-Germany Cooperation (KfW), Ms. Jenny Choo, Chief Technical Adviser, KfW-ACB Small Grants Programme.GITEC-IGIP GmbH;
Officials and representatives from the ASEAN Member States, colleagues from the ACB, ladies and gentlemen;
Good morning and welcome to the 10th Programme Steering Committee for the ASEAN-Germany Cooperation on Biodiversity.
Since 2010, the cooperation between the ACB and the Federal Government of Germany, through the GIZ and KfW, has flourished with the implementation of six programmes and projects. These are (i) Biodiversity and Climate Change Project; (ii) Biodiversity-based Products (BBP) as an Economic Source for the Improvement of Livelihoods and Biodiversity Protection Project; (iii) the Small Grants Programme I and II; and (iv) the Institutional Strengthening of the Biodiversity Sector in ASEAN I and II Projects.
These programmes and projects focused on translating a shared vision into concrete action through capacity development, awareness raising, and the elaboration and implementation of regional strategies to appropriately address climate change and biodiversity loss, mainstream biodiversity across sectors, and improve livelihoods. This laid out a strong foundation for us to expand innovative initiatives on biodiversity conservation and its sustainable use. This could have not been achieved without the guidance of the PSC to ensure that our projects are implemented successfully and that the lessons learned were carried over the 10 years to succeeding initiatives.
In today’s meeting, we look forward to discussing updates on the cooperation, in particular the ISB II and SGP I and II projects. This includes identifying and discussing gaps and challenges during the implementation of these projects. We will also share success stories, experiences, and lessons learned on biodiversity conservation and explore prospects for us to continue this valuable cooperation.
Let us continue on this path of collective measures as we strive to enhance connectivity and resilience in the ASEAN region, through sustainable and nature-positive action.
We are grateful to the Federal Republic of Germany for this support under the ASEAN-Germany Cooperation on biodiversity and we look forward to continuing partnership.
Thank you very much. Khob chai.
